AgriNovus Indiana

The USDA estimates that between 30-40% of the US food supply is wasted every year – that’s over 133 BILLION pounds. One farmer, turned soldier, turned entrepreneur is tackling that market. Ben Moore, founder of The Ugly Company, joins us to talk to fruit. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>Ben’s connection to Indiana and how a farmer went on to create a trucking company that became The Ugly Company as it is today&nbsp;</li><li>How damaged fruit with scars or other cosmetic issues because big business for Ben – The Ugly Company can now be found on store shelves of Target, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Whole Foods&nbsp;</li><li>The Ugly Company’s goal to prevent food waste, where they are at in that target and how they hope to accelerate that goal in the future&nbsp;</li><li>How the fruit becomes the product on shelves – The Ugly Process, if you will&nbsp;</li><li>Ben’s advice for aspiring farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs and lessons he’s learned from leading his business and his time serving in the US Army&nbsp;</li><li>What service looks like to him versus what it maybe looked like as a 22-year-old soldier&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for The Ugly Company – including further distribution and availability in schools&nbsp;</li></ul>

Ben Moore

Founder, The Ugly Company

The USDA estimates that between 30-40% of the US food supply is wasted every year – that’s over 133 BILLION pounds. One farmer, turned soldier, turned entrepreneur is tackling that market. Ben Moore, founder of The Ugly Company, joins us to talk to fruit.

366. The Ugly Company’s Ben Moore on tackling food waste, innovating for consumer health + leading to serve

367. The Ugly Company’s Ben Moore on tackling food waste, innovating for consumer health + leading to serve 

This weekly podcast dives into agbioscience, where agriculture, life sciences and cutting-edge technology converge. Agbioscience is an in-depth conversation with leaders and entrepreneurs across food, animal health, plant science and agtech. This one-of-a-kind podcast offers updates on the latest advancements and future trends from those at the forefront of agbioscience innovation.

Agbioscience

The USDA estimates that between 30-40% of the US food supply is wasted every year – that’s over 133 BILLION pounds. One farmer, turned soldier, turned entrepreneur is tackling that market. Ben Moore, founder of The Ugly Company, joins us to talk to fruit. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Ben’s connection to Indiana and how a farmer went on to create a trucking company that became The Ugly Company as it is today&nbsp;</li><li>How damaged fruit with scars or other cosmetic issues because big business for Ben – The Ugly Company can now be found on store shelves of Target, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Whole Foods&nbsp;</li><li>The Ugly Company’s goal to prevent food waste, where they are at in that target and how they hope to accelerate that goal in the future&nbsp;</li><li>How the fruit becomes the product on shelves – The Ugly Process, if you will&nbsp;</li><li>Ben’s advice for aspiring farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs and lessons he’s learned from leading his business and his time serving in the US Army&nbsp;</li><li>What service looks like to him versus what it maybe looked like as a 22-year-old soldier&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for The Ugly Company – including further distribution and availability in schools&nbsp;</li></ul>

Global Market Insights predicts the precision fermentation market for food and beverage will grow from just about two billion in 2024 to 70 billion globally by 2034. That’s a staggering combined annual growth rate of nearly 40%. Liberation Labs is pioneering a new approach to precision fermentation at scale that borrows a page from the pharmaceutical industries playbook. Co-founder and CEO, Mark Warner, joins us to get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>What exactly is precision fermentation?&nbsp;</li><li>The challenge facing companies, particularly early-stage innovators, that Liberation Labs saw an opportunity to solve for with contract precision fermentation&nbsp;</li><li>The company’s recent announcement of its first customer for the Indiana facility, Vivici, what they will do for them and what’s exciting about the partnership&nbsp;</li><li>How Mark saw an opportunity in the pharmaceutical space that could be replicated in fermentation for agbioscience innovation&nbsp;</li><li>Mark’s journey to fundraise for Liberation Labs&nbsp;</li><li>Reflecting on the decision to put their facility in Indiana for access to talent, corn and transportation&nbsp;</li><li>The biggest opportunities for growth – not just for Liberation Labs – but for precision fermentation as an industry&nbsp;</li><li>Biomanufacturing’s importance to economic growth, but in urban and rural America&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for Liberation Labs&nbsp;</li></ul>

Mark Warner

Co-Founder + CEO, Liberation Labs

Global Market Insights predicts the precision fermentation market for food and beverage will grow from just about two billion in 2024 to 70 billion globally by 2034. That’s a staggering combined annual growth rate of nearly 40%. Liberation Labs is pioneering a new approach to precision fermentation at scale that borrows a page from the pharmaceutical industries playbook and its co-founder and CEO, Mark Warner, join us.

365. Liberation Labs’ Mark Warner on precision fermentation for food + beverage, the Vivici partnership + biomanufacturing’s future

The U.S. Economic Policy Institute estimates there are 2.4 million ag jobs in the United States and Purdue University believes that 40% of ag jobs – new jobs – go unfilled. One entrepreneur is turning to the power of digital to transform ag labor. Scott Prince, CEO of Croft, gives us perspective on the current labor market and what he’s solving for using agtech. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>The complexity and challenges of the ag labor market – from seasonality to workforce shortages&nbsp;</li><li>How the Department of Labor’s H-2A program is designed to help farmers overcome labor challenges, but the administrative hurdles they face in the process&nbsp;</li><li>What the process looks like for farmers to participate in the H-2A program and why Croft was developed as a streamlined solution&nbsp;</li><li>Identifying this as a critical need to automate for the farmer&nbsp;</li><li>What Scott is hearing from customers using the platform&nbsp;</li><li>What’s ahead for Croft – hint: it includes expanding their analytical intensity capacity&nbsp;</li></ul>

Scott Prince

CEO, Croft

The U.S. Economic Policy Institute estimates there are 2.4 million ag jobs in the United States and Purdue University believes that 40% of ag jobs – new jobs – go unfilled. One entrepreneur is turning to the power of digital to transform ag labor. Scott Prince, CEO of Croft, gives us perspective on the current labor market and what he’s solving for using agtech. 

364. Croft’s Scott Prince on the ag labor market, H-2A's administrative hurdles + innovating a streamlined solution for the farmer

The American Farm Bureau estimates that roughly 40% of US farmland is either rented of leased. It’s a reality that creates a labyrinth of contracts and agreements between farmers and landowners that the two have to navigate together. One entrepreneur is turning to the power of software to transform that challenge into an opportunity that makes that relationship a little easier to navigate. Shashi Raghunandan, CEO of Oaken, joins us to talk the complex web between landowners and farm operators. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>The existing challenge between landowners and farmers, especially as farms grow to significant acreage&nbsp;</li><li>Oaken as a platform not only manage multiple contracts for large acre farms but to also manage the unique specifics of each individual deal&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>How the migration to cloud-based technologies like Oaken balance in an industry like agriculture that is largely relationship-based&nbsp;</li><li>The feedback farmer customers are giving on the Oaken platform thus far&nbsp;</li><li>Shashi’s background in payments and financial services and how it paved the way to him connecting with Purdue DIAL Ventures and eventually leading Oaken&nbsp;</li><li>What to expect from Oaken in the next 12-18 months &nbsp;</li></ul>

Shashi Raghunandan

CEO, Oaken

The American Farm Bureau estimates that roughly 40% of US farmland is either rented of leased. It’s a reality that creates a labyrinth of contracts and agreements between farmers and landowners that the two have to navigate together. One entrepreneur is turning to the power of software to transform that challenge into an opportunity that makes that relationship a little easier to navigate. Shashi Raghunandan, CEO of Oaken, joins us to talk the complex web between landowners and farm operators.

363. Oaken’s Shashi Raghunandan talks the landowner + farmer relationship, agtech that saves time + money

At the end of April, AgriNovus CEO Mitch Frazier jumps on the podcast with Cayla Chiddister to recap the month gone by and events coming up, including: <ul><li>Recent travels and discussions around how the Midwest can add additional value to its commodities, an existing strength and something we've done time and again. </li><li>Mitch recently spoke with AgFunder News' Elaine Watson on challenges meeting opportunities in this tough environment right now and how "pessimists might sound smart, but it's the optimists who will win. That story is <a href="https://agfundernews.com/agrinovus-ceo-on-why-his-agbioscience-glass-is-always-half-full-pessimists-sound-smart-optimists-make-money#new_tab" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a></li><li>Our next Quadrant event is coming up in Indianapolis focused on the evolution of food ingredients based on shifting consumer preferences, how food companies are responding and what that means for farmers. You can register for the free event <a href="https://agrinovusindiana.com/quadrant/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Quadrant's discussion aligns nicely with a gigantic event -- The Sweets and Snacks Expo (learn more <a href="https://sweetsandsnacks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>).</li><li>Field Atlas just closed its May Company Tour application window, but August is still open for college students to apply. Learn more <a href="https://myfieldatlas.com/company-tours/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a></li><li>Velocity Demo Day is coming up June 18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Register for the free event <a href="https://agrinovusindiana.com/velocity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. </li></ul>

At the end of April, AgriNovus CEO Mitch Frazier jumps on the podcast with Cayla Chiddister to recap the month gone by and events coming up including Quadrant, Sweets and Snacks Expo and Velocity's 1st Demo Day!

362. Mitch Frazier recaps April, talks Midwest resilience + looks ahead to Quadrant + Velocity's first Demo Day

362. Mitch Frazier recaps April, talks Midwest resilience + food takes center stage in Indianapolis in May

The USDA calls biosecurity the cornerstone of animal livestock production and it’s one that’s taken center stage of late as farmers have battled disease. Dr. Kelli Werling, Director of Animal Health Programs at the Indiana Board of Animal Health, joins to talk biosecurity, how farmers are protecting the farm and how the spread of disease among animal production is ultimately impacting consumers. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>The current state of biosecurity across the Midwest, avian flu’s impact three years into its reign and how farmers are working to attempt further spread on their operations&nbsp;</li><li>Consumer pressure being felt by avian flu and how egg prices are being impacted&nbsp;</li><li>The migration of the disease from birds to other species – from cattle to cats – and why it’s happening&nbsp;</li><li>As a regulatory body, IBOAH balancing the heightened state of alert, practicality of science and emotion&nbsp;</li><li>Where Kelli sees new innovations emerging on farms to combat the spread of disease&nbsp;</li><li>The best defense to avian flu – is a good offense&nbsp;</li><li>What IBOAH sees ahead with disease pressure and their call to action for farmers and industry alike&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>

Dr. Kelli Werling

Director of Animal Health Programs, Indiana Board of Animal Health

The USDA calls biosecurity the cornerstone of animal livestock production and it’s one that’s taken center stage of late as farmers have battled disease. Dr. Kelli Werling, Director of Animal Health Programs at the Indiana Board of Animal Health, joins to talk biosecurity, how farmers are protecting the farm and how the spread of disease among animal production is ultimately impacting consumers.

361. IBOAH’s Dr. Kelli Werling on animal disease pressure, biosecurity risks + farmers innovating to combat the spread

Agbioscience was on-site at the Indiana Farm Bureau’s Ag Threats and Security Summit in March and had a chance to sit down with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Special Agent in Charge Herb Stapleton to talk all things biosecurity. We get into:&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>The complex labyrinth of threats and risks affecting agriculture in the Midwest and across the United States&nbsp;</li><li>How threats to agriculture are evolving and what that evolution means for farmers and agbioscience companies alike&nbsp;</li><li>As Special Agent in Charge, what Herb has witnessed as the most prevalent cyber threats to ag across the Midwest in recent years&nbsp;</li><li>Herb’s perspective on the relationship between food security and national security&nbsp;</li><li>What controls farmers and agbioscience companies can put in place to be prepared&nbsp;</li><li>Action items Herb hopes attendees take from the event – from the simple to the complex&nbsp;</li></ul>

Herb Stapleton

Special Agent in Charge, FBI

Agbioscience was on-site at the Indiana Farm Bureau’s Ag Threats and Security Summit in March and had a chance to sit down with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Special Agent in Charge Herb Stapleton to talk all things biosecurity.

Recent Episodes

SEASON 8

366. The Ugly Company’s Ben Moore on tackling food waste, innovating for consumer health + leading to serve

365. Liberation Labs’ Mark Warner on precision fermentation for food + beverage, the Vivici partnership + biomanufacturing’s future

364. Croft’s Scott Prince on the ag labor market, H-2A's administrative hurdles + innovating a streamlined solution for the farmer

363. Oaken’s Shashi Raghunandan talks the landowner + farmer relationship, agtech that saves time + money

362. Mitch Frazier recaps April, talks Midwest resilience + looks ahead to Quadrant + Velocity's first Demo Day

361. IBOAH’s Dr. Kelli Werling on animal disease pressure, biosecurity risks + farmers innovating to combat the spread

360. BONUS: The FBI’s Herb Stapleton on the complexity of threats affecting agbioscience + calls to action for defense

About The Show

Agbioscience

Mitch Frazier

CEO, AgriNovus Indiana